Epitopes of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins recognized by antibodies in the sera of HIV-1-infected individuals.

Sera from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected study subjects and controls were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using 10 synthetic peptides to identify epitopes of HIV envelope glycoproteins (ENVgp) that were recognized by antibodies. Two epitopes of HIV ENVgp, ENVP466 (amino acids 466-481) and ENVP497 (amino acids 497-509), were recognized by antibodies in the sera of most HIV-infected individuals. The frequency of individuals with detectable serum antibodies to these two epitopes was not associated with the stage of HIV disease. Purified antibodies to ENV497 had only very weak neutralizing activity against infectious HIV. These data suggest that a particular dominant type of antibody response to HIV's ENVgp has minimal protective effects. These and other studies to identify and stimulate immune responses to selected epitopes of HIV antigens may be useful in the design of vaccines to prevent or treat HIV infections.